Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Safety of left atrial appendage amputation in cardiac surgery patients without atrial fibrillation
Authors' conclusion
Concomitant LAAA was not associated with increased surgical complications, post-operative AF, or fluid overload in patients without a history of AF.
Study context
- Population
- Patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2) undergoing elective cardiac surgery, 2 centres, 2015–2018
- Participants
- 434 patients
- Exposure
- Left atrial appendage amputation (LAAA) vs no LAAA during elective cardiac surgery
- LAAAn = 150
- No LAAAn = 284reference
- Outcome
- Composite of:
- Major complications
- Supraventricular tachycardias
- Follow-up
- Within 30 days
Methodological details2 centres, propensity-score matched
- 2 centres
- Propensity-score matched
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
30 days
- LAAA vs No LAAA: P = 0.321
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Post-operative AF38% vs 32%; no significant difference | P = 0.225 |
Procedural times and markers for fluid overload
- Procedural times and markers for fluid overload did not differ
Propensity score-matched analysis
- Propensity score matching confirmed no important differences between cohorts
Safety
Atrial tachycardias · uncommon but more frequent with LAAA
P = 0.014
Original publication
Safety of left atrial appendage amputation in cardiac surgery patients without atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 14 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →